Coupling



ou. 26, 1943. AQP. JAHANT COUPLING Filed May 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EYS t- 26, l943 A. P. .JAHAN-r 2,332,641

COUPLING Filed May 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 25 4 ng' j INVENTOR AUGUSTUS R .TAHANT ATTORNEYS Patented @et 26, 1943 Sim vbarra nach 2,332,641 lCSOUPLiiNo augustus l. Sahant, Akron, Ohio applicati@ May ze, 1941, serial No. 394,296 i claims. (ci. ass- 129) rThis invention relates to improvements in a coupling member more particularly adapted for use in joining together the flanged end portions of electrical conduits or ducts, or other members having anges to be secured together.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coupling member which may be quickly "and easily secured to a pair of iianges to join the latter together with a minimum of securingmeans.l

Another object is to provide .a coupling member formed of a predetermined number of channel members which may be bent or folded to fit a pair of flanges having a predetermined number of sides.

A further object is to providea couplingmember having means to permit hanging of the member and the conduits which it secures together, and having grounding dartsforuse with electrical conduits when it is desired to' use such conduits as electrical conductors for the purpose of grounding any current passing therethrough.

A further object is to provide novel securing means for holding the coupling member on the iianges.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a pair of electrical conduits or ducts to be joined together,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one form of the coupling member holding the conduits together,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupling shown in Fig. 2, l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line i-fl of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional View taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modiiied form of coupling member,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a pair of the members shown in Fig. 6 shaped to nt flanges of square cross-section,

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a portion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a similar View of another portion oi the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line ld--i of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings the numerals IG and l i designate a pair of electrical conduits or ducts having flanges l2 and i3 respectively which flanges are adapted to be joined together to properly align the conduits. These conduits conform of the stitute metal raceways or troughs for conveying electric wires and cables and provide protection against damage to the wires and cables.` Inthis instance the conduits and flanges are ot square or rectangular cross-section, but they may be of any suitable cross-section. Ordinarily the anges l2 and I3 are adapted to be bolted together through the bolt openings lli, but my novel coupling member `eliminates the need flor bolts and provides a quick and accurate means for securing the flanges together. l

In the embodimentshown inFigs. 2 to 5 Vinciusivethe coupling member, indicated as a whole by the numeral l5, is formed of four integral sides or sections I5, Il, I8 and it, and eachsection is shaped as a channel member in'crosvS-section, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Section i5 has an opening 23 through the channel adjacentits free end, as viewed in Fig. 3, and section I9 has a pair of tabs or extensions 2l on its outer end which extend through opening when the sides are folded into square or rectangular shape, as in Figs. 2 and 3.

The coupling l5 is preferably formed from a single length of sheet metal, such as a soft sheet steel, which is rst bent into channel shape. The length of the respective sections i6 to I9 is then determined and portions indicated by the openings 22 are cut out, leaving a small portion of metal 23 between each section to serve as a hinge when the sections are folded into square or rectangular shape.v After opening 20 is out in section IE and tabs 2l are formed on section I9, the coupling is ready fpr use. In some instances it is desirable to provide means for hanging the coupling and the conduits which it joins together from a Wall or from anI overhead position, ,and

p for this purpose, one or more of the sections,

bereceived in the end of section iii, the cha-n` nel in the latter may be slightly widened as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. The sheet metal used may be readily bent to permit this widening. The channel sections receive the flanges l2 and i3 in a relatively tight fit and will hold them together indenitely. Occasionally the wires and cables carried in the conduits will become bare and a live wire Will contact the metal of the conduit. It is therefore desirable to ground the conduits and have them lead any charge passing therethrough to the ground. When it is thus desired to use the conduits as an electrical conductor, metal to metal contact may be insured by providing a plurality of grounding darts Z at spaced intervals around the coupling. As shown in Fig. 4, these darts are formed by cutting the metal'at an angle in two directions and then forcing the sharp end of the cut portion into Contact with the metal anges l2 and i3.

In Figs. 6 to l0 inclusive I have shown a modified form of coupling indicated as a whole by." the numeral 3Q.

Coupling 3 is formed cf two identical right angular sections, each section comprising two integral sides or sections 3l and p 32. To clarify the arrangement, in Fig; 7, one right angular section is shown in full lines and the other in dotted lines, but both are formed in in Fig. 6, the sheet of metal is first bent into f channel shape and then split intermediate its ends on the line 33, forming the sides 3| and 32 and leaving enough metal at the lower end of the split to act as a hinge when-the sides are bent `at right angles. An opening 3d is formed through the channel in -the outer end of side 32 and tabs 35 are formed on the outer end of side 3l. Strap receiving openings 36 are formed on side 32 and rivet holes 3'! are placed in the walls of each channel in each side 3l and adjacent their inner ends.

Sides 3l and 32 are now bent at right angles with the channels interflt'ting as shown in Fig. 10. To insure'a rm connection at the right angle,-rivets 33 are placed through holes 3l to securethe respective .walls of the channels together Without obstructing the channels. In order toform a square or rectangular coupling with this modified form of the invention it is only necessary to join two right angular sections containing the sides 3| and S2, in the manner indicated in Fig. '7, with the tabs of one section extending ythrough the opening 3G in the other section. |Ihe tabs 35 are then spread apart as shown in broken lines in Fig.,8 and the coupling will be tightly held upon the flanges adapted tor fit in the channels. If desired, grounding darts may also be used 'with the modified form of the invention.

It is believed vto be apparent that I have provided av novel coupling member which is well adapted to perform the functions intended and apparent to those skilled in the art that changes 'departing from the spirit of the invention r and modications may be made therein Witholt from the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is: f 1. A coupling of the character described consisting of a one-piece metal structure of channel vshape in cross section, said structure comprising a plurality of sections each adapted to embrace a pair ofy abutting anges to be coupledysaid sections beinggunited with each other by a flexible strip' of metal enabling the sections to be bent at an" angle to each other, and means for retaining the coupling in position on said flanges.

2. In combination with a pair of flanges to be joined together and having a plurality of sides formingA a rectangle, a coupling having a plum rality of sections which together define a rectangle, each coupling section being longitudinally straight and formed with a channel which receives a portion of said flanges therein, at least two of said coupling sections being permanently joined together in angular relation by anintegral connecting strip that is transverselybent to form one corner of the rectangldand means for securing said .coupling in Vposition withv said anges in said channels.

3. A coupling of the character described comprising a plurality of pairs of longitudinally straight channel members, the members of each pair 'being permanentlyconnected to each other by an integral intervening transversely bent strip so as to constitute an angular unit, andat least which may be'quickly and easily placed over any y two of said units being joined together to form a geometricY gure-with each channel member forming a side of said ligure.

4.' In combination with a pair of flangesrto be joined together, a one-piece coupling comprising a series'ofv longitudinally straight channel members permanently connected together end# to-end by transversely bent integral deformable strips arranged tot over said flanges so as to receive sai-d' flanges in said channel members, and means for securing said channel members in position over said flanges, said means com prising a pair of separable tabs formed on the free end of the channel member at one endof the series, the channel member at the other end of the series having its free end provided with an opening to' receive said tabs, said tabs being separatedY after passing through said opening. '4

- lAT .iGUsTUs P. JAHANT. 

